What is the point of an Energy Performance Certificate?

Well the real answer is that the government has committed to reduce carbon emissions and as homes are a major contributor, to record and track properties emissions, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have been introduced for rental properties and properties which are being sold (via Home Information Packs).

In actual fact, EPCs for landlords have an additional advantage in that it’s only likely that the ‘good’ landlords will have them done. Rogue landlords are unlikely to bother, and as such I believe there is an opportunity for landlords to show tenants that you are better than the rest.

To make sure landlords/letting agents turn the cost of regulation into an advantage, any landlord or letting agent, should in my view, do three things the first time they talk or meet with a tenant:-

1. Talk about or show them information about the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and explain what happens if they take a property from a landlord that doesn’t take a deposit or protect theirs.

2. Show copies of gas safety and ideally an independent electrical safety certificate.

3. Show a copy of the EPC and an explanation of what work has been done to improve the energy efficiency of the home (if any) and how much the utility bills are likely to cost.

To me, if regulations mean landlords have to pay out for all the above, because the government doesn’t seem to take the responsibility to promote ‘good landlords’ from ‘bad’, it’s essential that you do what you can to educate tenants.

Hopefully the more we make the effort to educate tenants, the more likely we are to be able to turn the cost of landlord regulations into an advantage.

For more information on EPCs and help on finding tenants, call us on 07585 897128 or contact us via email.